TIRANA, May 11 /ATA/-By Maela Marini/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama stated Wednesday that the ruling Socialist Party has supported the overhaul of Albania’s judiciary and building a new justice system that is free from political hands and interference.
The Premier also noted that his government has supported establishment of new justice bodies and people in these institutions despite effects on the state budget.
Speaking in a press conference at the Socialist Party’s headquarters earlier today, PM Rama said that the governing majority was aware of the uphill battle of the justice system reform.
“We knew it would be an uphill climb and a tough battle and this is the reason we have supported the new justice bodies even beyond the mathematical logic of the state budget. I would invite you to take a look at the amount of reallocated budget funds to support justice system only. Take a look at the monthly wages of justice system officials and employees since 2013 when we took office and you would find out that no salary hike has been approved for the cabinet members or lawmakers since then,” PM Rama said.
The government head noted that no previous administration has ever done such a colossal effort to remove justice system from the political grip and influence.
“However, this can’t be immunity granted to politicians out of power. We are not here to play the fool’s role and take a blind eye or remain silent. We stood silent when a woman was arrested for a crate of fish, disregarding the misbalance; we say even a fish crate can be a violation. But how are we supposed to remain silent when a former justice system member was found to own 13 unjustified properties and he still keeps investing undisturbed? One-sided justice, no matter how fair it may seem when it acts, is actually not an unjust but even dangerous justice,” he stated.
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